Appendicitis: symptoms, causes, treatment and psychological attention

April 4, 2024

Appendicitis is one of the most common reasons for surgery among young people. It is an inflammation that, if not treated in time, can lead to death, which requires urgent medical intervention.

Next we will see the Symptoms, causes and treatment of appendicitis , as well as its general characteristics and the approach with which psychological accompaniment is carried out.

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What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a type of infection that appears in the appendix, an area of the large intestine located in what is known as "blind" , which is the end where it communicates with the small intestine. It is a small elongated chamber with a single entrance in the form of a deflated balloon.

It is a part of the digestive system that, despite not being important to maintain a correct level of health, can be infected with relative ease.

Causes of this infection

The infection by appendicitis occurs, normally, when a set of feces remains obstructing the appendix and blocks it for a long time. However, it is also possible that the problem originates with a tumor in the area, worms that parasitize the intestines or even traumas that affect that stretch of the digestive tract.

The infection starts when from the intestinal mucosa begins to appear an accumulation of secretions , which causes the pressure inside this cavity to increase. This presses the surrounding veins and arteries, which causes ischemia to occur in the appendix tissue and start a bacterial battle that leads to infection.

On the other hand, the accumulation of pus in this part of the large intestine can cause the appendix to break , thus generating a peritonitis (the peritoneum is a membrane that covers and protects part of the viscera.

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symptom

The symptoms of appendicitis begin in the form of moderate pain in the part of the navel, which may be accompanied by occasional cramping. After a few hours, this pain moves down and to the right side of the lower abdomen, several centimeters above the groin (in that half of the body).

As well there is usually a high or moderate fever and typical symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by obtaining data through several routes. Mainly, these consist of:

Abdominal palpation
Blood, urine and stool tests
Ultrasound and abdominal CT
Information revealed by the patients, referred to the pain experienced (in normal situations and during palpation).

You have to bear in mind that no diagnostic method is infallible by itself , and that is why it is important to keep in mind that these data are always combined and at the same time the possibility of treating another disease, such as gastroenteritis, is valued.

Treatment

Once appendicitis has occurred and it has been identified as such, all possible medical interventions go through surgery . The procedure consists, fundamentally, in extirpating the inflamed appendix as the liquid that has been concentrated around it. If peritonitis has also been generated, it is usually necessary to leave the wound open to carry out a general washing of the area and close later by sewing.

It is important to perform the surgical procedure as soon as possible. prevent the appendix from getting punctured , which could lead to a chain reaction of infections, multiple organ failure and death.

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Psychological support of the patient

Given the frequency with which appendicitis occurs among young people, it is very possible that the patient feels scared and intimidated by pain and fever as well as by the prospect of undergoing surgery in a delicate area of the body. , in one of your vital organs.

That is why it is of great importance, first of all, inform about the nature of appendicitis , a disease that if treated in time will not go away, but that must be attended urgently-

It should also be noted that the removal of the appendix, despite affecting an area as important as the large intestine, does not significantly affect the quality of life, and that after the operation will continue to be normal life.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to report that the surgical intervention will leave a scar of several centimeters (normally, 3 or 4) in the lower abdomen, on the right, diagonally. It is an area that can be exposed with certain pieces of usual clothing, as well as swimsuit.

This can damage the self-image if you have very high expectations that the surgery will leave everything as it was, and that is why you have to propose the intervention in another way: as a measure that, despite offering a high percentage of guarantee of success, is urgent and is done to avoid very severe problems that could lead to death.